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I was lucky enough to go to media day today, so I am starting a series that will take a look and every position and give a few quotes from the players themselves. It starts with QB.

For the second straight year we have a little bit of a QB situation, though this season we at least have a favorite. Mike Potts has a chance at being the starting QB, but the clear favorite is Sophmore Jake Phillips. Here is what he had to say about the upcoming season.

On the Maryland game:

“Right now we are just working on getting our timing down with the recievers and tight ends, but the biggest thing is sticking to our gameplan as Coach [Laycock] always has a good gameplan going into the game and just executing the game plan. If it goes all as planned it should be good”

On the field turf

“I like the new field. The big thing is it will hold the weather a little better since it rains a lot down here, so it should be good for that.”

More about playing MD

“I’m pretty excited about it. [It’s] always exciting to play a big D-1[A] team, and we’ll definitely see where we stand after that game”

Tomorrow I’ll be releasing my short interviews with Elijah Brooks and Courtland Marriner.

“We strongly disagree with the decision by the Executive Committee and find it absurd that the NCAA continues to target William and Mary—a College that sets the standard for the scholar athlete—because of two feathers on our athletic logo,” said William and Mary Athletics Director Terry Driscoll. “We do know that William and Mary will forever be the ‘Tribe’ and that was the most important victory in this entire process. We’ll review the decision about our athletic logo over the next few weeks as we evaluate what’s in the best interest of our student athletes.”

I consider this a good time to bring this post out of the bottom of the archive. It is absolutely ridiculous that FSU gets off based on the fact that the local Tribes support it, but when WM is supported by the local Tribes it is suddenly forgotten.

You know Football season is close when it’s A-10 media day! Starting at 10:00 AM and going until 12:30, WRHU(Hofstra) will be broadcasting live and will have an interview with Laycock. Also the A-10 preseason teams will be unveiled and they will predict the order of finish in the A-10! I will be updating this post all day, so if you aren’t listening be sure to check back!

UMD game-Said “challenge” several times. Likes to give them an opportunity to play a I-A team. Hopes the team looks foward to the challenge.

Morris:Chemisty-The O-Line came together during the Spring chemisty-wise. Said he made the transition to center in the Spring. Though the O-Line is young, Morris said that Jake Phillips makes guarding himself easier due to his mobility.

UMD game-Always excited to play a I-A and ACC team and said he can’t wait for the challenge facing an ACC team is.

Chris Ray:Ray had another solid month of July, much-needed after his ERA of over 5 in June. Chris only gave up 5 runs(4 of which were in 1 game) in 12 innings to the tune of a 3.75 ERA. His WHIP is at a solid 1, and he has gone 6/7 in save opps. He is now 26/28 on the season.

Bill Bray(Tribe player of the month):Bill was traded to Cincinnati on July 13th, but that didn’t phase him one bit. Quite Frankly he has been on fire. Getting his second career win and first career save, Bray posted a 1.26 ERA and brought his season total(was over 5) down to 3.64. He held batters to a .196 batting average against, and only gave up 2 runs in 14 1/3 innings pitched.

Curtis Pride:Pride has only been up with the Los Angelos Angels of Anaheim for about a week, but in his few AB’s he has definitely impressed. In 5 AB’s, he has hit .600 with his first homer since July ’03(that gave the Angels a 5-3 lead over the Red Sox on July 29th) a double, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s. Hopefully Pride can keep it up, and maybe even get a ring with the Angels later in the year.

Brendan Harris:Though he is no longer with the big club, Harris should get called-up when the September call-ups take place, so I’ll give an update on him. After getting traded in the same deal Bill Bray was to the Cincinnati Reds, Harris has struggled. If he continues to hit .229 with an OPS just over .600, he may not get that call-up, but hopefully it is just nerves as he hit .283 with the Nationals AAA team prior to getting traded.

Wililam and Mary R-Sr. Outside linebacker Ryan Nickell announced he wouldn’t return to the college as a fifth-year senior to instead pursue a career as a pilot in the Air Force. Nickell was a two-year starter, but losing him won’t be as tough to swallow as thought. LB is by far the strongest and deepest position on defense, and with the return of Chris Ndubueze to join players like Josh Rutter and captain Trevor McLaurin(amoung others), I’m not concerned in the least over the LB play this season.

Tribe alum, Curtis Pride, was called-up in the place of stud prospect Howie Kendrick today. Pride was hitting .321 with a .903 OPS for Triple-A Salt Lake in 252 AB’s before getting called-up. Pride is the 4th William and Mary alum to be in the MLB this season.

So says Coach Shaver. Told me the purchase is underway(for a scoreboard)

Pretty exciting. Can’t wait for next season now. A video scoreboard is much needed.

New Assistant Basketball Coach

Tony Shaver announced the addition of Ben Wilkins to the coaching staff. A manager and assistant coach at N.C. State, Wilkins also spent time at Apex High in Apex, NC(same city ’07 recriut Marcus Kitts is from). He seems to be strong at recruiting and working with film(funny this and video scoreboard comes out the same day). Here are some quotes, I’ll try to dig up some stuff on Wilkins later tonight.

“Ben was exceptionally impressive during the interview process,” Shaver said. “The professional approach he took in seeking the job was also impressive. He has a very diverse basketball background, which is a very attrac-tive asset. He has proven himself as a successful recruiter at Barton College. He worked with Coach Herb Sendek at N.C. State, and brings a lot of new ideas to our program. I really feel like he is a total package that can help bet-ter the William and Mary program.”

That was from Shaver, this is from Wilkins:

“I am really excited to work with Coach Shaver and the entire staff at William and Mary,” Wilkins said. “I enjoyed my time at N.C. State working with Coach Sendek, but coming to William and Mary is a great opportunity for me to develop as a professional and help to better the program in any way I can.”

Adam Hess, in his 5th and final game in the Vegas Summer League, scored 9 points on 7 shots. He also picked up a rebound and assist. Not a great game like his last one, but it is his second best game, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he were invited to another camp to get a second look.